Facts about Quvenzhané Wallis
Quvenzhané Wallis Biography
The youngest actress ever nominated for an Oscar in a leading role, Quvenzhané Wallis made her film debut as Hushpuppy in Benh Zeitlin‘s 2012 feature Beasts of the Southern Wild.
Nine years old by the time she earned the Oscar nomination, Wallis was a mere 5 years old when she auditioned for the role, and 6 years old during the filming.
Despite having no acting experience and very little reading experience, Wallis appeared in nearly every scene of the movie (opposite Dwight Henry, another first-time actor who played her father).
She wowed audiences and the movie won over critics at Sundance; Beasts of the Southern Wild also got Oscar nominations for writing, directing and best picture.
Extra credit
Quvenzhané Wallis’s “signature” fashion accessory is a purse in the shape of a puppy (she claims to have more than 20 such purses)… Her first name is pronounced “kwa-VEN-zha-nay” and she goes by “Nazy”… She didn’t win the Oscar in 2013. Instead it went to Jennifer Lawrence, star of Silver Linings Playbook.